HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Brutal Slaying of Gabriela Leader Enrages Laguna Townsfolk

Tita Mely Carvajal was waiting for a jeepney ride in front of her house at Barangay (village) Dila to meet with colleagues at 8:50 a.m. last Aug. 27 when an unidentified man bumped into her, poked a gun at her cheek and shot her. The killer shot her again on the middle of her chest and again on her side.

BY DENNIS ESPADA

Bulatlat

Initial autopsy reports showed the victim's muscle part in the nape, liver, stomach and right upper lobe as badly damaged.

Erwin Moreno, fiance of Mylene Carvajal, the victim’s daughter, who was at the house at the time, told Bulatlat that he heard three gunshots and went out to see the source. He said he saw two men casually walking away from where Carvajal fell, blood oozing from her body. The suspects sped away on board a Suzuki X3 motorcycle toward Cabuyao town.

Death threat

The news of Carvajal's tragic death has drawn sympathy and anger among residents.

A 50-year-old widow, Carvajal was known as Tita (aunt) Mely to neighbors and friends. She was the spokesperson of Pilside Neighborhood Association (PNA), an urban-poor association based in Barangay (village) Pulong Santa Cruz, and the Mamamayan ng Santa Rosa Para sa Kagalingan, Kaunlaran, Kapayapaan Tungo Sa Magandang Kinabukasan (People of Santa Rosa for Welfare, Development, Peace Toward a Better Future or MSRK3), a municipal-wide multi-sectoral alliance.

In an interview with Bulatlat, a sobbing Mylene said that, despite a heart ailment, her mother "was very helpful to the oppressed and needy, and firm in her convictions."

Lolit Matilla and Sabeng Arriola, both organizers of the MSRK3, admitted they have been receiving death threats since August 16, received  through word of mouth. The threat message read: "Si Lolit, si Sabeng, wala 'yan. Kapag napatay natin ang pinakapuno madali nang isunod ang mga 'yan” (Lolit and Sabeng, they're nothing. If we killed the head, it is easy to get rid of them.).

Indignation

Carvajal was known for being a fearless speaker in behalf of women, workers and the urban poor of Santa Rosa.

She ran for municipal councilor in the May elections but lost.

"She was very effective in leading the people to oppose unjust demolitions, and in exposing anomalies in the local government...She was also active in advancing the rights and welfare of women and children," Helen Asdolo, secretary-general of Gabriela-Southern Tagalog, said in a statement.

Hundreds of friends and supporters of the victim staged an indignation march in the afternoon of Aug. 27 in front of the Sta. Rosa City Hall to condemn the perpetrators of the killing.

"Sino man ang utak at mga pumatay sa kanya ay mananagot sa hustisya ng mamamayan“ (Those behind this murder and the killers will answer before the people's justice), stated a flyer signed by Anakpawis (Toiling Masses) Partylist-Santa Rosa chapter.

"Kung inaakala ng mga salarin na mananahimik na ang mga manggagawa at maralita sa pagkilos para sa kapakinabangan ng lahat at laban sa abusadong iilan ay nagkakamali sila. Marami pang Mely Carvajal na mamumulat at kikilos para sa mamamayan. Walang punglo ang puwedeng humadlang sa mabubuting gawa ng mga tulad ni Tita Mely” (If the killers think that the workers and urban poor will keep quiet in defending the interests of the people and against the abusive few, they're wrong. Many more leaders like Mely Carvajal will come to work for the people. No bullet can stop the good work being done by people like Tita Mely).

Graft-buster, anti-cityhood

Knowing too much of alleged graft and corruption, Carvajal reportedly called on the Ombudsman to conduct a "lifestyle check" on local officials, namely Mayor Leon Arcillas, municipal secretary Perla Lozada, public accountant Nelia Carvajal, chief assessor Nelly Gomez and Barangay Don Jose chairman Romeo Aala. The cases are still under investigation.

As spokesperson of the MSRK3, Carvajal figured prominently in the recent campaign to oppose the cityhood.

Santa Rosa was converted into a component city through a referendum held last July 10 as mandated by Republic Act No. 9264, a law signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last February.

Local officials claimed that the people would benefit from the cityhood, saying that Santa Rosa would receive an Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) worth P300 million from the national government, that the income of small barangays would increase, and that various development projects and public services would be financially sustained.

"On the contrary, a bigger income would surely mean more rampant corruption for the ruling few. Cityhood would result to higher taxes in various forms which would make people's lives more miserable. People must feel real development," said Chiit Trinidad, the victim’s younger brother and a member of the MSRK3.

Santa Rosa posted an income worth P749 million in 2004 and P453 million in 2003. It has a total population of 185,633 as of 2000.

The MSRK3 campaigned hard to reject the cityhood plan, but lost. This week, the group was supposed to file a motion for reconsideration before the Supreme Court. The schedule however was delayed due to the killing.

Although R.A. No. 9264 mandates that there will be no tax hike within five years of cityhood, the group warned that under the new Local Government Code, the city may impose 50 percent increase in taxes on permits and certificates. This includes franchise routes of tricycles.

Under Arcillas’ administration, taxes were increased 300 percent without public hearings, the MSRK3 said.

"We will not rest until the killers are brought to jail. The people of Santa Rosa are demanding justice for our beloved Tita Mely. She's a beacon to us all," said Arman Albarillo, spokesperson of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (New Patriotic Alliance)-Southern Tagalog. Bulatlat 

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